Beast Hunters Voyager Shockwave prototype

[griffin]

Someone in Hong Kong has managed to acquire 3 pre-production prototypes, and was selling them on ebay for US$1,200 each!
(that's certainly cashing in on the past fad of fans who would snap them up to be the first to post up images)

Images can be seen here of the toy (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-prime-beast-hunters-voyager-shockwave-prototype-images/26751/) (only in robot mode).

Items have been "removed", but not the ebay listing, so the person must have found buyers who were willing to pay a fair bit, but didn't want to be known, in case Hasbro chased it up later.
This is the same person as the recent Robot Heroes Prototypes auctions, and has a lot of toy prototypes listed (at ridiculous prices)... but it is interesting to scroll through the things this person has available.
With so much stuff on hand, they have to be someone high up at Hasbro HK, or some HK business involved in pre-production mock-ups and prototypes.

[Megatron]

^Note the "NOT FOR SALE" stamp on the front of the prototype. :D

I've always wondered if this seller's prototypes were legit.

[griffin]

It's obviously legit if it is yet to be released, otherwise it would just be a bad KO if it were already out there.

The "not for sale" bit is really for retail sale. Sure, it isn't intended for private sale either, but once these prototypes are discarded, if they aren't required to be destroyed, they are eventually going to end up in the hands of someone who will sell them. A bit like dumpster diving... some you keep, some you sell, but it was all discarded by the original owner, who gave up any ownership of it if they didn't make sure their property was properly destroyed.

[Megatron]

Yeah, I just found it ironic/funny. :p

Good point about the legit issue.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Looking through the guy's other stuff on ebay is quite interesting.

This Roadbuster for example. (http://www.ebay.com/itm/0465-Canceled-RANSFORMERS-DARK-OF-THE-MOON-ROADBUSTER-prototype-/251196796408?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item3a7c7eedf8). Makes me wonder about the designing of toys even more. Is that roadbuster a quick 3d model of the sort of thing they want in a deluxe sized toy? But even if it is, why go to the point of making a static figure first when some pictures would do the trick.

Or was this part of another type of toy that was due?

Oooo! The mystery:cool:

Wow, they even have some moulds on there too! (http://www.ebay.com/itm/0819-GI-JOE-12-2002-Tunnel-Rat-Rotocast-Mold-Prototype-/261151145364?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item3ccdd23d94)

[Bidoofdude]

So the moulds are just discarded ones that anyone buying can use?
That could work for recreating lost heads...;)

[Jinto]

Nice to get a look at shockwave from the back. I'm pleased to note the lack of hollow space and (excessive) backpack kibble. :cool:

[griffin]

Looking through the guy's other stuff on ebay is quite interesting.

This Roadbuster for example. (http://www.ebay.com/itm/0465-Canceled-RANSFORMERS-DARK-OF-THE-MOON-ROADBUSTER-prototype-/251196796408?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item3a7c7eedf8). Makes me wonder about the designing of toys even more. Is that roadbuster a quick 3d model of the sort of thing they want in a deluxe sized toy? But even if it is, why go to the point of making a static figure first when some pictures would do the trick.

Or was this part of another type of toy that was due?

Oooo! The mystery:cool:

It's one of the Robo-Fighters, which weren't released here. There were 8 of them (six in the photo below plus two redecos, of Bbee & Op), and the gimmick with them is that a panel slides up or down the chest, which makes weapons & bits pop out further from parts of the body.
Basically another form of Stealth Force, but in Robot mode instead of stuff popping out of the alt-mode.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/collection/c14b3.jpg